Gaming device display and method of use

Abstract

A display device comprising a plurality of activatable display segments, a player input device and a controller. The plurality of activatable display segments are positioned to be viewed by a player, each display segment being configured to be individually activated and to communicate a potential outcome of a game. The player input device is positioned to be activated by the player, the player input device being configured to transmit a signal when the player activates the input device. The controller is in communication with each display segment and the player input device. The controller is configured to cause the display segments to be randomly and sequentially activated and deactivated; randomly determine an outcome of the game; determine at least one display segment that can communicate the outcome of the game; receive the signal produced by input device, when the player activates the input device; cause the display segments to stop being randomly and sequentially activated and deactivated; and cause the display segment that can communicate the outcome of the game to be activated, wherein the outcome of the game is communicated to the player and it appears that the outcome of the game was at least partially influenced by when the player activated the player input device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of playing a game, the method comprising the following, but not all necessarily in the order shown:
 (A) providing a plurality of activatable segments, each activatable segment being configured to communicate a potential outcome of the game; 
 (B) randomly and sequentially activating and deactivating the plurality of activatable segments of the display device; 
 (C) providing a player input device; 
 (D) allowing a player to manipulate the player input device while the plurality of activatable segments are being randomly activated and deactivated; 
 (E) randomly determining the outcome of the game; 
 (F) determining at least one activatable segment that communicates the outcome of the game; and 
 (G) subsequent to the player manipulating the player input device, activating the activatable segment of the display device that communicates the outcome of the game in such a way to communicate the outcome of the game to the player, wherein it appears that the outcome of the game was at least partially influenced by when the player manipulated the player input device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the automatic activating of a particular activatable segment comprises illumination of the particular activatable segment. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the game is a bonus game. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining a plurality of activatable segments that communicates the outcome of the game and activating the plurality of activatable segments of the display device that communicates the outcome of the game thereby communicating the outcome of the game. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of activatable segments each have at least one of a plurality of indicia displayed thereon. 
     
     
       6. A gaming device, the gaming device comprising:
 (A) a plurality of activatable display segments positioned to be viewed by a player, each display segment being configured to be individually activated and to communicate a potential outcome of a game; 
 (B) a player input device positioned to be activated by the player, the player input device being configured to transmit a signal when the player activates the input device; and 
 (C) a controller in communication with each display segment and the player input device, the controller being configured to:
 (a) cause the display segments to be randomly and sequentially activated and deactivated; 
 (b) randomly determine an outcome of the game; 
 (c) determine at least one display segment that can communicate the outcome of the game; 
 (d) receive the signal produced by the input device, when the player activates the input device; 
 (e) cause the display segments to stop being randomly and sequentially activated and deactivated; and 
 (f) cause the display segment that can communicate the outcome of the game to be activated, wherein the outcome of the game is communicated to the player and it appears that the outcome of the game was at least partially influenced by when the player activated the player input device. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The gaming device of  claim 6  further comprising a game apparatus in communication with the controller, the game apparatus being configured to allow a player to place a wager and play a game. 
     
     
       8. The game device of  claim 6  further wherein the gaming device is configured to allow a player to play a bonus game. 
     
     
       9. The gaming device of  claim 6  wherein the activatable display segments depict segments on a board of a board game. 
     
     
       10. The gaming device of  claim 6  wherein the controller is further configured to determine a plurality of display segments that can communicate the outcome of the game and cause the plurality of display segments that can communicate the outcome of the game to be activated. 
     
     
       11. The gaming device of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of display segments each have at least one of a plurality of indicia displayed thereon. 
     
     
       12. The gaming device of  claim 6  wherein the display segments are positioned around the player input device. 
     
     
       13. A gaming device, the gaming device comprising:
 (A) display means for communicating a plurality of potential and actual outcomes of a game; 
 (B) random activation means for causing the display means to randomly and sequentially display potential outcomes of the game; 
 (C) player input means for receiving player input; 
 (D) random outcome means for randomly determining an outcome of the game; 
 (E) outcome display means for causing the display means to display the outcome of the game thereby communicating the outcome of the game to the player, wherein it appears that the outcome of the game was at least partially influenced by when the player activated the player input device. 
 
     
     
       14. The gaming device of  claim 13  further comprising a game apparatus means for allowing a player to place a wager and play the game. 
     
     
       15. The gaming device of  claim 13  wherein the display means further include at least one of a plurality of indicia means displayed thereon. 
     
     
       16. The gaming device of  claim 13  wherein the display means are positioned around the player input means.